Creative Arts

The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design Curriculum at The Colleton Primary School is based on the National Curriculum. We know that this an important area of learning for all children so that they can develop their individual creativity, express their ideas and understanding and work both individually and collaboratively with others.

Each Team plans art lessons which ensure that all pupils:

• produce creative work, explore ideas and record experiences
• become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
• evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
• know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms

Art is taught as part of our creative curriculum and cross curricular links are made wherever possible e.g. castles, Ancient Greece, Vikings etc which provides a meaningful context to develop the teaching of skills and knowledge.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage children explore and play with a wide range of media and materials through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities. The have opportunities to learn to:

• explore the textures, movement, feel and look of different media and materials freely
• respond to a range of media and materials, develop their understanding of them in order to manipulate and create different effects
• use different media and materials to express and develop their own ideas
• explore colour and use for a particular purpose
• develop skills to use simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately
• select appropriate media and techniques and adapt and refine their work where necessary
• create and share ideas with others

The children build on these skills and experiences through Key stage 1 where children are taught:

• to record their observations in sketch books
• to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products
• to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share ideas, experiences and imagination
• to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
• to evaluate the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work.

During Key stage 2 the children further develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.

Children are taught:

• to create sketch books to record observations in their sketch books and use them to review and revisit ideas
• to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials, for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay
• to discuss and analyse and appreciate the work of great artists, architects and designers in history

Continual assessment of the development and progression of skills takes place throughout all art and design lessons. Teachers use this information to inform future planning for lessons. This ensures all children are supported and challenged appropriately to develop their skills in Art & Design.

At The Colleton Primary School we believe music sparks creativity, helps with well-being and gives a sense of togetherness as a community. Music is a universal language that can change how we feel, think and act.

Our intent is to enable the children to develop a life-long passion for music, but also through music to embed important skills like listening, pattern recognition and memory. Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to understand rhythm and follow a beat. We follow the National Curriculum objectives: that enable the children to

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions
• learn to sing and to use their voices to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions of pitch, duration, dynamics, temp, timbre, texture, structure and musical notations.

At The Colleton Primary School we use ‘Charanga’ to support our music teaching. This is an online music scheme provided by Berkshire Maestros with lots of visual aids and interactive resources to support children’s learning about music. The scheme is based on progression of skills taken from the Early Years Framework and the Primary National Curriculum. Throughout the scheme, children are actively involved in using and developing their singing voices, body percussion as well as learning to play classroom instruments effectively to express their own and others music. The Charanga musical skills cover:

• Listening and appraising
• Singing and musical instrument practice
• Composition
• Improvisation
• Performing and Sharing

Throughout the year all pupils are given the opportunity to sing or perform in team or registration group assemblies. Foundation Stage and KS1 perform a Christmas or nativity play at the end of the autumn term, Years 3 and 4 during the spring term and Years 5 and 6 perform an end of year production in the summer. As well as these opportunities to perform, children take part in the Christmas carol service.

Many of our children have the opportunity to learn an instrument in school, supported by Berkshire Maestros In2Music project. Year 4 also have a term of specialist music lessons provided by Berkshire Maestros.

Through our music teaching, the Colleton children develop a love of music and develop an understanding of culture and history through music. In addition to this, the children will develop the fundamental competencies of listening, collaboration, pattern recognition and memory and these skills can be further implemented across the curriculum. Children’s learning will be assessed by questioning throughout lessons, musical recordings and learning walks.

Music is a part of our everyday lives and can provide us with much joy and comfort. At The Colleton, we aim to support and teach music to all children, whatever their ability.